Listening to locate a target was a fundamental skill in hidden weapon practice, hardly a secret. Tang San didn't hesitate to explain this training method simply to the Dragon Snake couple standing nearby. He even briefly described some of the fundamentals of hidden weapon practice.
Meng Yiran had some initial reservations, but as Tang San spoke, she nodded repeatedly. In less time than it took to drink a cup of tea, his words gave her an entirely new understanding of the world of hidden weapons.
"...If you can master these, the supplementary effect of hidden weapons will already be quite significant for you." Tang San concluded his instruction to Meng Yiran with the briefest possible explanation. It wasn't that he was stingy with his knowledge; he was simply eager to absorb the Man-Faced Demon Spider's Soul Ring and go find Xiao Wu.
His physical stamina and Soul Power had recovered somewhat in the interim. He felt he should be able to absorb the Soul Ring now.
Dragon Grandpa and Snake Granny had watched Tang San instruct Meng Yiran all along without interrupting. Dragon Grandpa, who had been feeling somewhat sullen after Zhao Wuji's words earlier, now had a smile on his face.
Meng Yiran gave Tang San a deep look. "I'm not going to say thank you to you."
Tang San gave a faint smile. "I wasn't expecting it."
*Pfft.* Meng Yiran laughed. She was already beautiful, and this smile was as captivating as spring thawing the frost. "You're only twelve? You certainly act mature beyond your years. Here, let your big sister give you a kiss." As she spoke, she suddenly leaned over and planted a quick kiss on Tang San's cheek.
Tang San clearly hadn't anticipated this "surprise attack" from Meng Yiran. He only felt a warm, soft sensation on his face. For a moment, not only did his face turn red, but even his ears flushed a deep crimson.
Seeing his flustered expression, Meng Yiran felt much more cheerful. She said seriously, "Don't get any other ideas. This is me repaying my debt from the bet. I honor my wagers; I'm not the type to renege. Alright, we're leaving. You should hurry and absorb that Soul Ring. If I run into you interfering next time I'm hunting a Soul Beast, hmph hmph." As she spoke, she even mockingly shook her fist at Tang San.
Of course, this clearly carried no real threat.
Dragon Grandpa and Snake Granny exchanged a knowing smile, nodded to Zhao Wuji, and then led their granddaughter away with a leap. They needed to quickly find a suitable Soul Beast for her so they could leave this place soon. They couldn't ignore the threat of the Titan Giant Ape either.
Oscar sidled up to Tang San with a grin. "Third Brother, feels good, doesn't it?"
Tang San shot him a speechless glare. "Feels good what? Give me another Recovery Sausage."
Oscar laughed heartily. "Old man's got a big sausage!" Under his shameless Soul Chant, a sausage materialized directly in his hand, which he passed to Tang San.
Tang San turned to look at the corpse of the Man-Faced Demon Spider. The dense, purple-black radiance had now coalesced above the body, forming a stable ring. This was the optimal moment for absorption. Gazing at it, the relaxed expression on Tang San's face tightened once again. He constantly remembered that Xiao Wu was still waiting for his rescue.
He ate the sausage, walked over to the Man-Faced Demon Spider, and sat down. "Sorry to trouble you all."
Zhao Wuji nodded to Tang San and waved his hand. The students formed a protective circle around Tang San, maintaining vigilant guard. With their protection, Tang San no longer needed to worry about threats from ordinary Soul Beasts and could finally focus his entire being on absorbing the powerful Soul Ring before him.
He raised his right hand. The soft blue light from his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul slowly appeared in his palm. Taking a deep breath, Tang San extended his call towards the Soul Ring of the Man-Faced Demon Spider.
The purple-black radiance, as if it had been waiting for an outlet, surged forth the moment it sensed his Martial Soul, flooding towards Tang San like a hundred rivers converging into the sea.
Seeing the dense purple-black light instantly shroud Tang San's entire body, even Zhao Wuji couldn't help but be inwardly startled. What intense Soul Power fluctuations! How many years of cultivation did this Man-Faced Demon Spider actually have?
As the one directly involved, Tang San's experience was even more vivid. He felt a colossal surge of heat pour into his body. Before he could even react, that heat had already begun to scorch him like raging flames.
The domineering nature of the Man-Faced Demon Spider itself determined the violent ferocity of the Soul Ring it formed. The overpowering aura entered Tang San's body and immediately began to forcibly reform his physiology.
Although the energy contained within the Soul Ring held no consciousness, it was also utterly beyond the control of Tang San's own will.
Under the onslaught of this powerful Soul Power fluctuation, Tang San felt as though his body was about to explode. The excruciating pain forced him to immediately spit out a mouthful of fresh blood.
The group surrounding him was simultaneously shocked. They had all absorbed Soul Rings before, but they had never encountered a situation like this. Their gazes involuntarily turned to Zhao Wuji.
Zhao Wuji said in a deep voice, "This Man-Faced Demon Spider's Soul Ring is too domineering. Absorbing it will not be easy. Now, he can only rely on himself. Absorbing a Soul Ring cannot be assisted by any external force. Otherwise, it would only produce the opposite effect. All we can do now is trust that Tang San can endure and bring it under his control."